OpenAI's Chief Executive Officer, Sam Altman, has recently conducted a series of high-level meetings with influential investors in the Middle East, seeking substantial capital commitments to facilitate a new funding round. Sources familiar with the negotiations indicated a minimum target of $50 billion for this investment phase.
The discussions involved leading state-backed investment entities based in Abu Dhabi, reflecting OpenAI's strategic focus on the region's robust sovereign wealth funds as a crucial source of financing. These talks are part of a broader initiative to secure financial backing aligned with the company's accelerated technological development and infrastructure expansion.
According to these insiders, OpenAI aspires to attain a valuation ranging between $750 billion and $830 billion. However, these negotiations remain preliminary, and the final valuation figures and funding outcomes could be subject to adjustment as discussions evolve.
In parallel, OpenAI has engaged in recent conversations with Amazon.com Inc. with the objective of raising a minimum of $10 billion, further emphasizing its diversified approach to capital acquisition. Previous information hints at OpenAI's desire to amass tens of billions of dollars in new investments, reflecting their ambition to maintain competitive advantage and expedite innovation.
The substantial fundraising ambition underpins OpenAI's commitment to finance the soaring expenses related to cutting-edge AI hardware, data centers, and the recruitment of specialized technical personnel. The company projects to invest over $1.4 trillion in AI infrastructure over the coming years, including a notable $100 billion project based in the UAE, described as part of the 'Stargate' data center development initiative.
OpenAI's last valuation, recorded at $500 billion in late 2025, coincided with a transaction that enabled employee share liquidity. The considered new funding round represents a consequential escalation in both the enterprise’s market capitalization and its capital reserves, positioning the company for accelerated technological progression.
This prospective capital influx may also bolster investor enthusiasm in the AI sector, which has experienced elevated volatility due to uncertainties surrounding the pace and implications of evolving artificial intelligence technologies.